Turbine blade support assembly

Abstract

A turbine blade support assembly comprises a central hub. A plurality of carrying members extend outwardly from the central hub. A respective subsidiary hub is provided on each of the carrying members for securing a respective turbine blade to each carrying member.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . A turbine blade support assembly comprising a central hub, a plurality of carrying members extending outwardly from the central hub, and a respective subsidiary hub on each of the carrying members for securing a respective turbine blade to each carrying member. 
   
   
       24 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein each carrying member is elongate and extends generally radially outwardly from the central hub, and having first and second opposite end regions, the first end region being secured to the central hub and the second end region having a subsidiary hub mounted thereon. 
   
   
       25 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23 , the assembly comprising a plurality of elongate support members to support the carrying members, each support member being arranged in tension between the carrying members. 
   
   
       26 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein each carrying member is elongate and extends generally radially outwardly from the central hub, and having first and second opposite end regions, the first end region being secured to the central hub and the second end region having a subsidiary hub mounted thereon, the assembly comprising a plurality of elongate support members to support the carrying members, each support member being arranged in tension between the carrying members, and at least some of the support members extending between carrying members at the second end region. 
   
   
       27 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein each carrying member is elongate and extends generally radially outwardly from the central hub, and having first and second opposite end regions, the first end region being secured to the central hub and the second end region having a subsidiary hub mounted thereon, the assembly comprising a plurality of elongate support members to support the carrying members, each support member being arranged in tension between the carrying members, and wherein at least some of the support members extend from the carrying members to a region of the central hub forward of the carrying members and/or to a region of the central hub rearward of the carrying members. 
   
   
       28 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein each subsidiary hub has a securing formation to secure a connecting portion of a turbine blade thereto. 
   
   
       29 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein each subsidiary hub has a securing formation to secure a connecting portion of a turbine blade thereto, and wherein the securing formation is in the form of a recess defined in the subsidiary hub, and the connecting portion comprises a projection extending from the blade. 
   
   
       30 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23  wherein each subsidiary hub has a securing formation to secure a connecting portion of a turbine blade thereto, and wherein the securing formation is a cavity in each carrying member and the respective subsidiary hubs are substantially wholly received within the cavity. 
   
   
       31 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein each subsidiary hub comprises operating means to effect a rotation of the blade about the respective subsidiary hub to vary the angle of attack of the blades. 
   
   
       32 . A turbine blade assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein each subsidiary hub comprises operating means to effect a rotation of the blade about the respective subsidiary hub to vary the angle of attack of the blades, the operating means comprising a motor and a gear arrangement, the motor being fixedly mounted on one of the turbine blades and the subsidiary hub and the component of the gear arrangement being fixedly mounted on the other of the turbine blade and the subsidiary hub. 
   
   
       33 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein each carrying member is in the form of a strut and has an aerofoil formation. 
   
   
       34 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein each carrying member is in the form of a strut and has an aerofoil formation, and the aerofoil formation comprises a flap to alter the lift on the blade. 
   
   
       35 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the carrying members and the subsidiary hubs comprise corresponding securing formations to secure the subsidiary hubs to the respective carrying members. 
   
   
       36 . A turbine blade support assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the carrying members and the subsidiary hubs comprise corresponding securing formations to secure the subsidiary hubs to the respective carrying members, the corresponding formations comprising a cavity in the subsidiary hub and the projection on each carrying member to be received in the cavity. 
   
   
       37 . A wind turbine incorporating a turbine blade assembly comprising a central hub, a plurality of carrying members extending outwardly from the central hub, and a respective subsidiary hub on each of the carrying members for securing a respective turbine blade to each carrying member.